World Water Day 2007

21 April 2007

On 21st April 2007, Water Watch Penang organised World Water Day 2007 with the United Nations theme for 2007 "Coping with Water Scarcity". The Honourable Chief Minister of Penang, YAB Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon officiated and declared open the event. The other VIPs were: YB Dato' Koay Kar Hwa and YB Teng Chang Yeow, Dato' Dr Anwar Fazal (WWP Advisor), YB Quah (Adun for Bukit Bendera), SUK, PBAPP Sdn Bhd Acting General Manager Ir Jaseni Maidinsa, and others. A water colour painting competition (There are 5 categories from Kindergarten to Form 5 & all students in Penang aged below 17 were eligible to take part). Lots of attractive prizes (bicycles, camping equipment, water bottles, mugs, etc were given out to the winners). A total of 500 students took part and another 500 people participated, making it at least 1000 people. There were also lots of water games, water exhibition, water guessing games, parent-child water competition, best booth competition, DJ music, etc throughout the day to keep the visitors and participants entertained. More importantly, these games and activities were all education and have helped to increased awareness amongst the people regarding the importance of water and the need to use it wisely. A lot of souvenirs such as water bottles, t-shirts, calendar pens, caps, mugs and exercise books (all with the water conservation message) were given out to the public. In addition, the PBA Waterfall Water Treatment Plant (inside Penang Botanic Gardens) was also opened to the public for viewing. The plant was a great attraction as it is a restricted area and is only opened once a year for the public. Many took the opportunity to visit the plant as well as to view the majestic waterfall at the top of the hill inside the plant. All the local newspapers will be there to cover the event. A total of 16 exhibitors also took part: PBAPP Sdn Bhd, Water Watch Penang (WWP), Indah Water Konsortium (IWK), Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Penang Branch, WWF Malaysia, Friends of Botanic Gardens (FOBG), Penang Botanic Gardens, Jabatan Bekalan Air (JBA) Pulau Pinang, Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS), Social-Economic and Environmental Research Institute (SERI), Penang Environment Working Group (PEWOG), United Nations University (UNU) & Global Environment Information Centre (GEIC) and Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Pulau Pinang.

Ms Jennifer Kim (Also acted as one of the three judges for painting competition)

Mr Lee Aik Chuan

Mr Tan Chong Wei

Ms Ng See Theng

Ms Yen Ying

Ms Shwyu Chyi

Ms Ong Ke Shin

Mr Lim Han Khim & 3 friends

For the schools, a total of 191 students took part in the art competition centering on water as the theme (see Appendix B). Bearing in mind that the students, especially of the lower age groups, are accompanied by parents, teachers and their siblings, the estimated number of parents, teachers and siblings are around 200+ people. Joggers and other people (including tourists) inside the botanic gardens also joined in the activities. There were a total of 14 booths taken up by PBAPP Sdn Bhd, WWP, IWK, JBA, DOE, Jabatan Perhutanan, SERI, Penang Environmental Working Group (PEWOG), United Nations Global Environment Information Centre (UNU GEIC), and NGOs such as MNS, WWF Malaysia, Friends of Penang Botanic Gardens, and WWP

Water Watch Penang (WWP) organized an awareness and education programme for members of the public (requested by Mr Ng Wee Kok of YAB Chief Minister’s Office) on water conservation in the Penang Botanic Gardens. This was a full day affair from 9.00am to 5.00pm with briefing, river-catchment walks, river clean-up, water contests, and other activities. The highlight of the programme was a visit of the group to the PBA’s Waterfall Treatment Plant at 10.30 am. Several WWP members briefed and accompanied the group. A few reporters were also invited to cover the event.